Sterling Financial Holdings Company is the youngest listed company in Nigeria, at just 3 years (Oct. 13, 2021)

Key takeaways:

  • Sterling Financial Holdings Company is Nigeria’s youngest listed PLC, at just 3 years (incorporated October 13, 2021).
  • Access Holdings and GT Holding Company are both only 4 years old, showing how recent banking reforms are shaping listing dynamics.
  • Airtel Africa is just 6 years old as a listed entity, highlighting the recent telecoms push into capital markets.
  • BUA Cement, only 11 years old, reflects how strategic industrial players are now aggressively leveraging public listings.
  • Financial services dominate the young PLCs list, from VFD Group (15 years) to First Holdco, Stanbic IBTC, and FCMB Group—all under 15.
  • Real estate and infrastructure players like UPDC REIT (12 years) and AVA Infrastructure Fund (10 years) show that capital-intensive sectors are increasingly tapping the market early.

Nigeria’s capital markets aren’t just anchored by legacy companies—they’re also seeing a steady wave of fresh entrants, many of them less than 15 years old. The youngest listed PLC is Sterling Financial Holdings Company, incorporated just three years ago in 2021. This signals a growing appetite for listings from modern firms, especially in financial services, infrastructure, and energy. It also reflects a broader trend of restructured financial institutions turning into holding companies and accessing public capital more strategically.

This new generation of listed firms is emerging at a time when investors are more data-driven, ESG-conscious, and digitally engaged than ever before. Unlike older legacy firms that built their reputations over decades, these younger PLCs are expected to show results fast, driven by clear business models and transparent governance.

Source:

Nigerian Exchange Group

Period:

2025
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